Steve Rustad illuminates issues and dissects politics

A Grim(m) Fairy Tale

Despite overwhelming public support for creating some kind of Rainier Interchange, at least one newly elected City Council member has stated that implementing this much-needed connection between Petaluma’s east- and west-sides is not “a priority.” Of course, given the state of the City’s budget, one could argue that we no longer have the resources, but as I recall when the City had money for Parisian trash cans and gingerbread trellises to shelter the street folk who nap at Washington and McDowell it wasn’t a priority then either. One can only hope that all of this talk about “smart growth” isn’t just a smoke screen for a return to the no-growth mind-set that characterized our City Council back in the 80’s and early 90’s. After all, in a town like Petaluma, its vibrant commercial activity, not wistful nostalgia, that pays for amenities like Parisian trash cans and gingerbread trellises…